Geo-referencing of aerial imagery using embedded image identifiers

• US 20040161131A1
• Filed: 02/13/2004
• Published: 08/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Rhoads, Geoffrey B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,099,492 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 11/00 Photogrammetry or videogrammetry, e.g. stereogrammetry; Photographic surveying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/58 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/7854 using shape G06F16/7837 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0021 Image watermarking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32154 Transform domain methods H04N1/32309 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32203 Spatial or amplitude domain methods H04N1/32309 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32299 using more than one embedding method
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32304 Embedding different sets of additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3252 Image capture parameters, e.g. resolution, illumination conditions, orientation of the image capture device H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3253 Position information, e.g. geographical position at time of capture, GPS data

Abstract

Digital watermarking technology is used in conjunction with map data, such as is acquired by satellite and other aerial sensors, and as may be generated from databases based on such aerial data. One implementation is a method of steganographically embedding auxiliary data in imagery. The method includes receiving imagery including a first geolocation estimate steganographically embedded therein. The first geolocation estimate corresponds to at least one area depicted in the imagery. The method further includes determining a second geolocation estimate, the second geolocation estimate comprising a more precise geolocation estimate, relative to the first geolocation estimate, for the at least one area depicted in the imagery, and steganographically embedding the second geolocation estimate, in the imagery.

Claims

1. A method of steganographically embedding auxiliary data in imagery comprising:

receiving imagery including a first geolocation estimate steganographically embedded therein, wherein the first geolocation estimate corresponds to at least one area depicted in the imagery;

determining a second geolocation estimate, the second geolocation estimate comprising a more precise geolocation estimate, relative to the first geolocation estimate, for the at least one area depicted in the imagery; and

steganographically embedding the second geolocation estimate in the imagery.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second geolocation estimate overwrites the first geolocation estimate.

3. The method of claim 1, where the second geolocation estimate overlays the first geolocation estimate.

4. A method of managing imagery, the imagery passing through at least a first system and being received at a second system, said method comprising:

receiving the imagery at the second system, the imagery comprising a first digital watermark embedded therein, wherein the first digital watermark was embedded in the imagery by the first system, and wherein the first digital watermark comprises geo-location data associated with at least a first area depicted in the imagery; and

while at the second system, embedding a second digital watermark in the imagery, the second digital watermark identifying at least one of the second system and information associated with a geo-location of at least the first area depicted in the imagery.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first system comprises an aerial capture platform and the second system comprises a ground station.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the first system comprises a ground station that receives the imagery from an aerial platform.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the first system comprises a geo-location determining system.